Nut-lock.



H. T. HUGHESl NUTKLOGK. Ammon-10N FILED rmms, 191s,

Patented Dec. 9,1913.

' citizen of the HUGH 'I'. HUGHES. OF YONGSTOWN, OHIO,

ASSIGNDR 'F ONE-.HALF TO W. H.

MCGRNAGHAN, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

NUT-LOCK.

To aZZfwwm t may concern:

Bel it' known that l, HUGH T. HUGHES, a United States, residing atYoungstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio', have inventedcertain new and 'useful Improvements in Nut-Locks, of which thefollowing is a specification-` This invention relates to the subject ofnut 'locking devices, and more particularly of the type wherein alocking washer is interposed between the inner face oit the nut and theabutment through which the bolt extends.

To this end, the invention has in view a simple and inexpensive form otnut lock of such construction as to render the same easy of application,while at the same time providing' secure and effective means forlocking' the nutl to the bolt so as to prevent loosening' or nnscrewingot' the nut when subjected to heav vibrations or other conditions thatusualy loosen nuts upon their bolts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a nut locking devicewhich'may be constructed from a single strip of spring steel orequivalent material, and to shape this strip into a form of washerpossessing suf'licient strength and durability for the purpose intended,and also embodying` means whereby, under the application of pressure,one terminal of the said washer will be held firmly interlocked orengaged with the nut at the inner side thereof, while the other terminalof the washer will be tightly wedged into binding` engagement with thethreads of the bolt. In this connection, it is also proposed that notonly the free terminal of the lwasher or washerring;` shall be wedged inbinding or locking engagement with the locking threads, but also thatthe washer-ring as an entirety shall be compressed or constricted uponthe tops of the bolt threads, thus providing` a most effectual andsecure loch for the nut that will enable it to resist all ordinarytendcncies for loosening); or unscrewing.

lVitlr these and other objects in view which are usually sought to beaccomplished with a device ot this character, the invention consists inthe novel construction ot a split washer-ring` and its mode ofapplication, hereinafter more particularly described, illustrated andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings showing Specification of Letters Patent.Application filed February 25, 1913.

. erence letter lltatentcd Dec.. 9, 1913. Serial No. 750,673.

the preferred embodiments of the invention,-Figure l is a sectionalelevation illus'- trating the application of the nproved nut locking'device, but not showing.' the nut screwed home. Fig. 2 is an enlargedsectional view on the line 2--2 ot' Fig'. l, exposing the washcr-ringarranged at the inner face of the nut and engaged with the bolt. Fig. 3is a detail view in perspective of the improved fiorm of thewasher-ring. Fig. l is a detail cross sectional view, on the line-1-l ot.F 3, showilrc the characteristics of the 'washers-ing rit-differentpoints. Figs. 5 and tl are views similar to Figs. l and 2 respectivelyillustrating` a modification of the invention wherein the 'asher-ring isreceived within a tapered recess.

Like reference characters designate corresponding` parts in the severalfigures ot' the drawings.

As herein indicated. the improved nut locking device constitutingl thepresent invention primarily consists ot' what may be termed a spirallycoiled spring; split washerri-ng, designated in its entirety by thereifw. This washer-ring` is made i'rom a single strip et spring steel orequivalent material` and is spirally coiled for the purpose otli1'incinpl its two terminals l and resilicctixely, not only intooverlapping relation, but also into telescopic relation. That is to say,thc ceiling' of.' the washer strip into split ringl two terminals intooverlappnrg` arrangement, as plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 ot thedrawings, while the spiral el'ect that is given to the ceiling nolanallybrings the ringterminals l and Q into different planes, so that they maytelescope one within the other upon the application of in'essureA due tothe screwing' home or" the nut.

In the usual application ol thc invention, the spirally coiledwasher-ring to is inter posed between the inner face of.' thc nut andthe fixed abutment 3 through which the bolt l extends, and at what maybe termed its fixed terminal, the washer-ring is prt vided with alaterally offset holding stud 5 that engages a keeper socket 6 at theinner side ot the n'ut. The other terminal Q ot the washereringtelescopically wedges within and against the fixed terminal l. Thewedging` action is caused by reason of the fact that the telescopingportions ofi' the ring have opposing wedge faces dueto the form bringsthe saidv 2 noel,

structural characteristic of having 'the washer-ring cross sectionallytapered. Also it is preferable that the ring is tapered. in

the direction of its length toward the tree locking terminal Q'.Accordingly, when the nut is screwed tight, with the terminal l lockedto the nut at G, the entire washer is 1 compressed upon the boltthreads, and atl the same timethe free terminal or tongnei 2 istelescoped into the fixed terminal l with the added effect ofcansingfsaid terminal tongue to crowd with a binding andi threaddistorting pressure 'upon the bolt threads. Also in this connection,itis preteralole to provide the inner extremity of the free lockingterminal '2 with lan inwardly projecting biting point or toot-tir 7which trails in the valleys of the bolt threads, and

also has a biting engagement therein.

Another adaptation and form of the inl vention is suggested in Figs. 5and 6 of the drawings, wherein the washenring is adapted to be receivedwithin a tapered recess 8 within the inner face of the nut, and insteadot a specially formed holding stud 5, the fixed terminal l of the ringmay be shaped to present a corner point 5 that bites the nut at thebottom of the recess 8 to secure the locking engagement between t thenut and the said washer-ring.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein described improvement in nut locks will bereadily apparent with-- out further description.

I claim:

1. A nut lock, comprising in combination with the nut and the bolt, aspring split washer-ring arranged at the inner side of the nut andhaving Wedging terminals one within the other which respectively have alocking engagement with the nut and holt upon application of pressure.

Q. .it nut lock, comprising in combination with the nut and 'the holt, aspring split washer-ring tapered in cross section and also in thedirection ot one terminal, the latter terminal having a wedging iitwithin the other tcrminaL 3. ii nut lock, comprising in combination withthe nut and the bolt, a sp1-ing split washer-ring tapered in cross seion and also in the direction ot one terminal, the latter terminalhaving a bolt threadengag ing point and also having a wedging engagementwithin the other' terminal.

li. A nut lock, comprising in combination with the nut and the bolt, aspring split washerring arranged at the inner side or the nut andtapered in cross section and also in the direction ot oneY terminal, thelatter terminal having a wedging engagement Wit-hin the other terminal,and said nut.

with the nut and the bolt, spring split washenring having one end en@"ed with the nut and a free terminal ting tongue fitting within theother end portion. said enti portions of 'the ringhaving opposingwedging faces that crowd the tongue onto and into Jthe bolt threads upon:application of pressure.

ln testimony whereof my signature in the presence et nesses.

i hereunto aiiix two wit- -iVitnessesz li. E. Minnen, nenas A. Jonnsron.

a. it. nut lock, comprising'in conabinationA a spil-ally coiled otherterrni- 4nal having a stud for engagement with the

